The Quaama Bushfire Relief Centre will be allowed to operate from a demountable building, freeing up the Quaama Hall for community use, following unanimous agreement at the council meeting on October 28.
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The general manager Leanne Barnes has been tasked with the development of a deed to allow a portable building to go on site, in a timely matter.
The matter was brought to council as urgent business due to the need to ensure the hall can be returned to community use as a priority. There are plans for a community market day on Sunday, November 15.
Following the bushfires, a community led Bushfire Relief Centre commenced operations from the Quaama Hall to receive and distribute donated goods, and to provide assistance and support to bushfire impacted residents.
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However more recently the wider community has expressed a desire to see the hall be more fully available for community use. Council received a proposal for the Bushfire Relief Centre to vacate the hall and continue supporting bushfire impacted residents by operating from a 12 x 3 metre demountable building in the hall grounds for a period of between six and 12 months.
Council has already conducted a 'Quaama Bushfire Relief Centre Have Your Say' questionnaire in relation to the proposal. Of the 130 responses received there was overwhelming support - 83 per cent - for Quaama Bushfire Relief Centre to operate from a demountable site office on the Quaama Hall grounds.
Bushfire Relief Centre co-ordinator Veronica Abbott said council advised her earlier this week of the positive response to the community consultation.
"Thank you community for recognising the need for the work to continue and the need for you to have the hall back in use for all community needs and activities," Ms Abbott said.
In the meantime, it is culling time in the hall with a lot of items being packed up and sent on to organisations for whom the distribution of used clothing and bedding is core activity.
Council said a suitable site for the demountable is toward the western side of the hall grounds adjacent to the toilets, with the demountable building's narrow side to face Cobargo Street, approximately in line with the front of the hall.
Hours of operation are to be limited by agreement to minimise disruptions to the privacy of neighbours
